Johnstone’s names winner
Johnstone’s Trade has at it’s The 33rd annual Johnstone’s Painter of the Year event , which recognised the work of the UK and Ireland’s decorating professionals, has recentky taken place.
A shortlist of 20 projects was drawn up by Johnstone’s panel of technical experts following individual site visits to every project entered. Judged on the quality of the decorative finish, the intricacy of the work involved and the technical and logistical challenges faced, securing a place on the shortlist was no easy feat.
The difficult task of choosing the winner of each category – Residential, Period and Restoration, Health and Education and Commercial, as well as the overall winner – fell to the guests who took part in an interactive vote on the night. Following the vote, Haines Painting and Decorating was named Johnstone’s Painter of the Year 2015 – Supreme Winner.
The Cardiff-based company impressed judges and guests on the night with its exterior refurbishment of the Children’s Hospital for Wales. Working in partnership with Interserve Construction and Boyes Rees, the team was faced with a logistical challenge and work had to be planned and executed carefully, given that access to areas to be painted was only achievable for the most part by cherry picker.
The roads around the building were open as usual, so works were planned to start at 5am each morning to reduce inconvenience. The hospital was open throughout and work took place in the vicinity of and above the main entrance, and the Haines team successfully completed the project without any incidents or complaints, delivering a first rate refurbishment.
Vince Haines, managing director, said: “To win this award is mind-blowing. We were all really proud of the work we carried out on this project, so didn’t think twice about entering it. To win, though, is just incredible and is fantastic recognition of the hard work everyone has put in. It’s the culmination of 18 years’ hard work for our business and we couldn’t be happier.”
Haines Painting and Decorating also picked up the Health and Education award, while B D Decorators won the Period and Restoration category for its work on St Laurence’s Church in Greenock and Mackay Decorators won the Residential category for Inchadeny House in Aberfeldy. Shane Smyth Decorators, meanwhile, impressed the judges in the Commercial category for its work at Kerry Global Foods.
Entries are now being considered for Johnstone’s Painter of the Year 2016, with any project completed between Jan 1st and Dec 31st 2016 eligible.